#23--Just Beginning

There is so much that I need to revisit if I'm going to apply it, so I really am just beginning. I have really enjoyed sharing this Learning 2.0 experience with my co-workers. Reading others' blogs has made the learning so much fun. Wasn't play the most important tool? That's how I remember it. Anyway, as tentatively as I began, I have enjoyed blogging about the experience, too.

Library Thing is probably my favorite discovery. I'm trying to pace myself so that I don't have to join a 12-step group for compulsive book catalogers. I hope to learn how to add my own images for my books that lack images in Amazon.com.

YouTube is irresistible, which surprised me. I've played on it almost every day since I found the Star Wars cockatiels. I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to pod casts and digital books on a regular basis from now on, too.

I would welcome another discovery program like this. Working on and completing Learning 2.0 has increased my confidence a hundredfold that I can competently learn and use new technology. That is very exciting.

Thanks to everyone who added a comment to my blog. You encouraged me to keep on going, especially when I was stuck.


Tiki is reminding me that it is neck-rubbing time, so that's all for now.

Audiobooks

Overdrive is really great. I love audiobooks. Being read to feels like a real luxury to me. I was only vaguely aware of digital books before this lesson.

There is so much to tempt me in the Greater Phoenix Digital Library. The instructions for this lesson were among the clearest. I "checked out" two Hebrew courses. If only I could sync them into my ipod! Next it's either Cyberchase: A Tikiville Turkey Day or Parrot Tricks. I really want Tiki to learn the Tap Your Foot dance. She may have other ideas.

I'm not really understanding why only one person at a time can "check out" digital material. Anyway, I love this technology and wonder how long it'll be before I NEED a portable, compatible player.

Almost done!

Podcasts!

This is something that I will really use. I've been lookin forward to this lesson. I subscribed to NPR's book-related podcasts both on my bloglines and itunes account just to see if I could. I also found Parrot Chat. It was very easy. I have a lot of exploring yet to do. There is so much to learn, and I notice that as I age I'm becoming more and more an auditory learner. What a great tool!


Now, how do I add to the hours I have to listen?

Let's All YouTube

YouTube is just plain fun. Yeah, there's a lot of junk, but I can usually find something along the lines I'm looking for. Libraries can use YouTube for all kinds of things--limited only by imagination.

What a hard decision of what video to embed! I was tempted to use the 70 minute academic library 2.0 presentation, but my laptop shut down in the process. I took that as a cosmic sign that there was something else out there for me.

It was obvious to include two excellent videos produced by our former page Jake Morgan. And, of course, I found a little cockatiel something I couldn't resist even though embedding had been disabled on it. It's well worth the look!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhjbazNuqvs

Library Thing is the Winner for Me

What's not to like about Library Thing? Library customers are sure to love this. Who wouldn't want to network with others who like to read the same things you do? I've already added dozens of books I want to read from seeing other people's libraries.

I'm still confused about how to add a picture of a book that is not on Amazon.com. Once I solve that mystery, I will be completely hooked. Until then, here's a link with an image for one of "my" books: http://www.singularitypress.biz/northsight.html

Web-based Apps

Wow, this is really interesting. I played around in Google Docs. I found it really easy. That's saying something. What a great way to coordinate with a team or be able to access your own documents wherever you have access to the internet! I really liked the calendar. I'll use this again.

PBwiki

This is interesting. I added my blog. I tried to add my favorite blog, but sometimes, like today, my links don't work. OK, so I forget how to do it, and remember later. I'll be back when my memory returns.

Wikis

Wikis are a great place to start when researching. There are so many things libraries can do with them. I like the ideas of subject guides, a community information hub, a book lovers wiki with booklists, recommendations and reviews. An Amazon.com-like feature "people who bought this, also bought this" would be a great resource for our customers.

Maybe I like wikis because I've actually used them before this class, which can't be said of much else. :)

You know I have to include a Tiki wiki, right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiki

Library 2.0

Rick Anderson of the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries has some interesting things to say about libraries remaining relevant in the 21st century. Among his sacred cows are the "just in case" collection, reliance on user education, and the "come to us" model of library service. Community libraries are challenged with balancing service to a wide range of customers--those who are current with cutting-edge technology to those who would be more comfortable with a card catalog (if we had one) and everyone in between.

The term "Library 2.0" makes me think of technology--using it to the best advantage to serve our customers. I like the idea that we remain open, listen to and find innovative ways to help those who may be less technology savy to come along with us in using all the great new tools avaible to us.

Technorati

Well, I don't qualify for the Illuminati part of Technorati. The diversity of hits with the library 2.0 search was surprising to me.

Wow, I had no idea how many blogs there are out there! I did manage to claim my blog. I did not have much luck finding many of the blogs I regularly read. Who knew, a couple of months ago that I'd be reading any blogs regularly?! I did find the Barefoot Librarian and Upstream--Stream of Consciousness, so I wasn't a total failure.

I also found one Tiki video. I thought my Tiki's hut took a beating with all her chewing. These bunnies have an advantage--teeth!

File this under "Come Back Later and Explore Some More."

De.licio.us

Wow, this is cool. I'm going to be using this. Setting up a delicious account was easy (even for me).
There's something brilliantly creative about the way the human mind makes associations and catalogs information. Sharing how we do that is awesome!
A library that makes use of this kind of technology will be ahead of the curve in customer-friendliness. At least that's what I think.
We'll see whether it's Delicious or Library Thing that I become most addicted to.